This is courtesy of my Dear Friend, Rabbi Aryel Nachman Ben Chaim...
Chanukah Lessons for Today
Chanukah Lessons for Today
By: Ranbach – 29 Tevet 5774
As this is the time of Chanukah, and as we celebrate the miracles, wonders and triumphs G-d wrought for us through the righteous Kohanim, let us not to forget that this historical narrative is a lesson as well as a warning for us in every age. As Rabbi Yosef B. Soloveitchik admonished us back in the 1960’s, it is important for us to “… looking back in order to look forward.”
It is time that we look around us at the world and, in particular, Israel; looking back in order to look forward.
Today we see anti-Semitism on the rise worldwide on a level we have not seen since the 1920’s. Jews are being attacked globally, and the attacks are generally ignored by the world’s media. Those who we thought were allies have turned their backs on us and left us as a pawn on the chessboard of international diplomacy; a piece and a people that can be sacrificed on the pagan alter of international politics.
As bad as it is for Jews in golus, the situation in Israel is a cause for great alarm.
Let us remember that the State of Israel is a miracle of G-d – not man. Regardless of the Balfour Declaration, the United Nations resolutions, or even Chiam Weitzman, make no mistake, G-d was the only one Who established the modern State of Israel. The proof of this is in the United Nations records itself: Since the establishment of the State of Israel, we need only look at the sheer number of resolutions and condemnations issued against the State of Israel to understand G-d’s role in bringing the Jewish people back to the land.
With this in mind, let us return to the days of the Maccabees and learn the lessons that we must apply today.
In those days, the Syrian-Greeks governed in the land and placed Jews who would comply with their wishes to carry out their agenda. Political corruption, buying of positions of political power, perversion of the Beit Hamikdash was rampant. Today, the United Nations governs our land and the government of Israel is primarily composed of those who acquiesce to their agenda. Arabs, Secularists, Liberal Jews rule in the stead of the United Nations. Only by the merit of the religious parties does Israel remain a state.
In those days, the Syrian-Greeks usurped the Jewish religion and built alters to pagan gods in their place. Today these alters are comprised of “Political Correctness” and, very often, run contrary to the needs of the Jewish people in the land. Those of our own people sacrifice the safety and well being of the people on these alters.
In those days, the Syrian-Greeks perpetrated abominations in the Beit Hamikdash. Today, a similar and more deadly abomination stands on the mount by those who oppose everything our G-d deems right behavior. When conflict arises between the idolaters and G-d’s chosen, it is the Jew who is blamed, and it is the Jew who is banished from the mount by our very own government.
In those days, the Syrian-Greeks introduced and forced an alien Hellenist culture on the population. Today, a liberal, progressive, Politically Correct culture has been adopted by a majority of secular and progressive pseudo-religious Jews in Israel.
In those days, the Syrian-Greeks did all they could to replace Jewish culture with Hellenist ideals and culture; even by force of arms. Today, the secularists and progressives cling to liberal, progressive ideals and use the courts and government to force these ideals upon the rest of the Jewish population in Israel.
In those days, the laws of G-d were held by the Hellenist Jews as an anathema. Today, within Israel, the religious Jews are denigrated, disrespected and confronted by the secularist and pseudo-religious on a daily basis. The religious Jews are portrayed as the aggressors in just about all cases reported in the media.
In those days, a group of Righteous Tzaddikim and Kohanim rose up against impossible odds, any by their merit and the merit of our forefathers, they triumped over the Syrian Greeks and the Hellenist Jews. Today, we await the Righteous Tzaddilim and Kohanim to lead those who wish to remain true to the G-d of Israel and His Torah.
In those days, we faced only the Syrian-Greeks and the Hellenist. Today, we face almost every nation on the earth.
Even in the not so distant past we have irrefutable proof of the desire for destruction of our way of life and our people.
From 1936 through 1945, the Shoah took 20 million of our people while the world kept silent. Every nation on the face of the earth stands guilty before G-d for the atrocities; either by direct collusion, or by their silence. Even the allies are guilty of knowingly ignoring and suppressing the information. With full knowledge of the carnage, they refused to act to save any lives and, in some cases, purposely hindered the work of others in their efforts to save Jewish lives.
Europe points at Germany as the sole perpetrators, but this is a false narrative. As Einsatzgruppen moved through Europe murdering 1.5 million, those countries collaborated with the Nazis and provided aid and manpower to them in carrying out their terrible agenda. These mass murders were attended by locals as some sort of macabre entertainment. People came out with their families and children to watch as Jews were being murdered en masse. Only when it was determined to be an inefficient method to ridding the world of the Jews was the machine of death hidden behind the walls of the death camps. Still, the evidence was overwhelming but ignored.
Today, we again face a world who seeks our destruction by direct collusion or through their silence. The Hellenist of those days are the liberal progressives of today.
It is time to act; time to cast off the world and return to G-d; time to return to the laws and to Torah.
Shemot 34: 12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest they be for a snare in the midst of thee. 13 But ye shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and ye shall cut down their Asherim. 14 For thou shalt bow down to no other god; for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God; 15 lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go astray after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and they call thee, and thou eat of their sacrifice; 16 and thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go astray after their gods, and make thy sons go astray after their gods.
So, celebrate Chanukah, celebrate it with joy and fervor; but remember the lessons of the past and what is happening in the present!
Again, I leave you with the words of Rabbi Yosef B. Soloveitchik that it is important for us to … look back in order to look forward.
Chanukah Sameach to All!
By: Ranbach – 29 Tevet 5774
As this is the time of Chanukah, and as we celebrate the miracles, wonders and triumphs G-d wrought for us through the righteous Kohanim, let us not to forget that this historical narrative is a lesson as well as a warning for us in every age. As Rabbi Yosef B. Soloveitchik admonished us back in the 1960’s, it is important for us to “… looking back in order to look forward.”
It is time that we look around us at the world and, in particular, Israel; looking back in order to look forward.
 |
As bad as it is for Jews in golus, the situation in Israel is a cause for great alarm.
Let us remember that the State of Israel is a miracle of G-d – not man. Regardless of the Balfour Declaration, the United Nations resolutions, or even Chiam Weitzman, make no mistake, G-d was the only one Who established the modern State of Israel. The proof of this is in the United Nations records itself: Since the establishment of the State of Israel, we need only look at the sheer number of resolutions and condemnations issued against the State of Israel to understand G-d’s role in bringing the Jewish people back to the land.
With this in mind, let us return to the days of the Maccabees and learn the lessons that we must apply today.
In those days, the Syrian-Greeks governed in the land and placed Jews who would comply with their wishes to carry out their agenda. Political corruption, buying of positions of political power, perversion of the Beit Hamikdash was rampant. Today, the United Nations governs our land and the government of Israel is primarily composed of those who acquiesce to their agenda. Arabs, Secularists, Liberal Jews rule in the stead of the United Nations. Only by the merit of the religious parties does Israel remain a state.
In those days, the Syrian-Greeks usurped the Jewish religion and built alters to pagan gods in their place. Today these alters are comprised of “Political Correctness” and, very often, run contrary to the needs of the Jewish people in the land. Those of our own people sacrifice the safety and well being of the people on these alters.
In those days, the Syrian-Greeks perpetrated abominations in the Beit Hamikdash. Today, a similar and more deadly abomination stands on the mount by those who oppose everything our G-d deems right behavior. When conflict arises between the idolaters and G-d’s chosen, it is the Jew who is blamed, and it is the Jew who is banished from the mount by our very own government.
 |
| Children of the holocaust forced to give a nazi salute |
In those days, the Syrian-Greeks did all they could to replace Jewish culture with Hellenist ideals and culture; even by force of arms. Today, the secularists and progressives cling to liberal, progressive ideals and use the courts and government to force these ideals upon the rest of the Jewish population in Israel.
In those days, the laws of G-d were held by the Hellenist Jews as an anathema. Today, within Israel, the religious Jews are denigrated, disrespected and confronted by the secularist and pseudo-religious on a daily basis. The religious Jews are portrayed as the aggressors in just about all cases reported in the media.
In those days, a group of Righteous Tzaddikim and Kohanim rose up against impossible odds, any by their merit and the merit of our forefathers, they triumped over the Syrian Greeks and the Hellenist Jews. Today, we await the Righteous Tzaddilim and Kohanim to lead those who wish to remain true to the G-d of Israel and His Torah.
In those days, we faced only the Syrian-Greeks and the Hellenist. Today, we face almost every nation on the earth.
Even in the not so distant past we have irrefutable proof of the desire for destruction of our way of life and our people.
From 1936 through 1945, the Shoah took 20 million of our people while the world kept silent. Every nation on the face of the earth stands guilty before G-d for the atrocities; either by direct collusion, or by their silence. Even the allies are guilty of knowingly ignoring and suppressing the information. With full knowledge of the carnage, they refused to act to save any lives and, in some cases, purposely hindered the work of others in their efforts to save Jewish lives.
 |
| Forced labour in Krakow |
Today, we again face a world who seeks our destruction by direct collusion or through their silence. The Hellenist of those days are the liberal progressives of today.
It is time to act; time to cast off the world and return to G-d; time to return to the laws and to Torah.
Shemot 34: 12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest they be for a snare in the midst of thee. 13 But ye shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and ye shall cut down their Asherim. 14 For thou shalt bow down to no other god; for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God; 15 lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go astray after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and they call thee, and thou eat of their sacrifice; 16 and thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go astray after their gods, and make thy sons go astray after their gods.
So, celebrate Chanukah, celebrate it with joy and fervor; but remember the lessons of the past and what is happening in the present!
Again, I leave you with the words of Rabbi Yosef B. Soloveitchik that it is important for us to … look back in order to look forward.
Chanukah Sameach to All!
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